Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-29

stitutional Amendment No. 1, was nexs taken
up for consideration-an Act to propose an
amendment TO Section of Article Nil. OF the
Constitution relating to revenue and taxation.
This amendment exempts growing trees and
vines from taxation. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
The majority of the committee reported against
it. minority report favoring Its passage was
also brought in and read as follows
The undersigned, being minority OF the
Committee on Constitutional Amendments. to
whom was referred the Act proposing an amend
ment to Section of Article NIL. of the Consti-
emDting from taxation, under the laws o. this
State. growing vines and frult trees; most re-
specially beg leave to dissent from the major
ity report of said committee. Inc resources OF
our land is drained TO its fullest capacity in
support of State, county and city governments.
Nearly every enterpr sc i'll this stare depends
ultimately upon the productveness OF our land
for its support and prosperity The profits of
the farmer goes out to enrich and sustain people
engaged in all the other industries OF life. a
failure in the crops of the farmer produces
stagnation in the business of the country, and
its prosperity or merton depends upon the pro-
ductiveacSs of the earth. With proper encour-
agement every fertile spot of land in this State
will be set TO vines or trees that is not already
utilized with that particular improvement APP
propriate TO its loca ity If the farmer is obliged
10 plant his vines and trees, and pass through
years of experiment, labor and expenditure
without profit, but with an increased taxation
nothing would lie more calculated To stiiie i'll
its infancy those industries upon which the
wealth Of the State is destined 20 be based
The laws and rules OF taxation are founded
upon policy, and not upon logic. Upon the
principle of logic there is no reason why any
property should escape taxation. The OAK tree
which furnishes acorns is valuable assistance
in some parts of the state, at least 1t represents
value in firewood. The natural grasses that
spring from the ground, the alfalfa and other
grasses that are planted, are not taxed, ana
should not be: but If we argued from Such PIN
ciples of logi the rules and system OF taxation
would necessarily include these articles. lie
fruits of the soil while growing should be con
sidered in taxation only in 50 Jar as they JUS
trate the value and capacity o! the land. There
is as much policy in exempting certain Gloss
of articles from taxation as there is in appro-
priating from State funds money to encourage
and protect these articles. The qhestl n. then,
is not do trees and vines represent value but
whether il is the policy OF the state TO protect
and encourage the man who seeks the hi 5 and
mountains TO perform his labor, expen Is his cap
ital and spends his life III cnr1chinC the golfers
of the State in building up its wealth. and i'll
beautifying its domains Whether the men who
exhaust ali their wealth in experiments, and
until its success is assured. proftless, and which
is attended with more than ordinary hardshIps,
should need encouragement, is question we
candidly submit to the consideration of this
house. and most earnestly recommend the sub
mission of the policy contained in said proposed
amendment to the people of the State of Cali
fornia."
Signed by F. L. Coombs, Russell Heath, John
W. Bost.
The committee reports upon the bill were the
subject of much discussion.
The minority report was finally adopted
Speeches were made against the proposed
amendment by Ellsworth Matthews of fehama,
Knox, Briefly and Ohleyer. In favor of il by
Wilcox, CoombS and Heath.
The vote on the adoption of amendment stood
ayes 80 noes y, and as it requires tWO-thirds
vote, was lost. Wilcox gave notice of rceOnsid-
Grafton
At AIS T. NJ. the House adjourned.